Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-10-17

untL diueu' naue muscle answer IN place
| of skill
1t soon came not to be required of
| him. Uncle Ned, the coal-biack stable
boss, after watching him master and
control powerful young stallion. de-
/ clared TO his old master, Twas er
shame ter put plow er hoe handles in
dat man han :; he ought ter be holdn'
/ de feathers from mOrnin' t'well night"
ana always thereafter addressed his
subordinate rs MARS West" And
squire MIntOn himself soon found that
his new employe had such culture and
intelligence as made him not merely a
welcome companion in his leisure
hours, but also dOubly valuable in his
own sphere.
And Grace, too, soon developed
cordial liking for the young man, who,
she discovered, was two wears her iu-
nior. and for whom she delighted to do,
unobtrus vely, small womanly kind.
nesses, for which he showed liveliest
| gratitude, though he never presumed
on them in the faintest degree. In
fact. it angered her somewhat that he
never seemed to forget his place as
| hlreling and stranger within the gates,
though but two people ever tried to
make him conscious of it, namely. Mr..
| Hector II ghland, the most irritant OF
the brother-in-law, and his cousin, Jack
Bell, who for six months or more had
laid hot seige to Miss Minton and her
money.
1t was under the hunters moon.
shining round and full through the
soft October air, that Grace at least
heard the story of her founding.
Though unusual it was not startling,
with only the pathos of dead hope
and the tragedy of crushed ambition.
He was, in full, Kenneth Westmore-
| land, one of a genaration of Younger
sons, who twenty-five years before
had come out to the Ru gby Colony full
of youths high purpose, and after the
stranding of that venture had drfted
aimlessly out away into whatever cur-
rent of the moment bore him on, all
ways to ill-fortune Irreguarly edu,
Gated, and with but desultory training
in anything save riding. shooting and
athletics, he had sought work and
| found none, till money, hope and cour-
age were utterly gone, and on the Nav
morning when Grace had encountered
him he had made himself ready to lie
down and starve quietly, having eaten
nothing since the morning before,
when his last garment was bartered
for bread.
1t did not matter much, he
! thought; he was alone il the world,
that had evidently no place for him; it
was even better starving in solitude
than in the crowd he had left behind,
From that Grace had saved him, but
there the matter seemed to end. He
showed no other thought or purpose
than to keep his place-go on and on.
! the trained and trusted hireling, who
never dreams of looking beyond his
present sphere. In fact, so acquiescent
was he in fate's harsh dealings. Grace
grew fairly angry with him, and vowed
inwardly to waste no more thought or
care upon his future. which she was
sure might be a notable one, if he only
had the energy and ambition so to
will il.
And this laudabe resolve she might,
and doubtless would, have kept. but
for the marplot brother-in-law. High.
hand. to whom went Mr.. Bell, in high
dudgeon over a curt dismissal, and who
straightway rode over and demanded
of Squire MInton that he bring his
daughter to ''hear reason" that is,
accept Mr.. Bell.
"a man of substance, the best chance
in the county. and the master she has
always needed"
Cou;ra M,ntop boorJ hin, tbrourb
nervously rubb nc his helpless hands,
himself strongly inclined to Bells suit;
but his nerves were not strong now,
and he could not bear to cross Grace,
who has been so long h s stay and com.
panon. as we'll us daughter; so he
temporized and counselled patience.
intimating that one no was not final
in fact that often one such negative
was more than half equivalent to an
affirmative. But on this Mr.. Highland
burst in hotly:
Wait! Oh. yes, wait! Wait until she
disgraces herself with that tramp
stable boy. who ought. I've no doubt,
to be hung. l saw her watching him
at the training track, and would have
brought her away only wanted to see
you alone, and try and open your eyes.
They have been philandering and love-
making ever since he came. I'll bel
my head"
"And lose it! but that will not matter;
in fact, will be an improvement" Miss
Nj nton sa d. stepping through the
French window and facing her assail-
ant with flushed cheeks and fearless,
flashing ewes. Just behind her walked
the cause of the war, cool and impas-
sive as ever, yet with fingers clutched
about the stock of the hunting whip
he carried Mss NJ nton went straight
up to her father and asked:
Father, do you believe that man"
mo. daughter" was the tremulous
response, while a hand was laid fondly
on her shoulder. She raised it to her
lips. and still holding it asked:
"Did 1 ever lie to or deceive you in
any way?"
Never, my good child"
Thank you. And you believe it Is
too late for me to beginp"
Quite too late"
Then hear what have to say. Up
to this hour Kenneth Westmoreland
has been to me only the most humble
and faithful of servants. full of simple,
loyal gratitude for the kindness we
have been able to show him; and
though in blood and birth and trai ming
more than our equal he has never
once FORGOTTEN or overstepped the